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Larsson ready to show his worth

During last summer’s World Cup, in a temporary television studio overlooking Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, Martin O’Neill put a value of £50m on Henrik Larsson, exaggerating just a little. “But how would he have done in the Premiership?” Alan Shearer asked his fellow pundit. “He’d have walked it,” O’Neill replied instantly. “He’d have scored as many as you, Shearer.” No higher compliment could he have paid the Swedish striker.

In an 18-year career that began at Southampton and reached its zenith at Blackburn Rovers before he returned home to Newcastle, Shearer made 733 appearances and scored 379 goals. His 260 goals from the 1992-93 season until his retirement last year is a Premiership record. Larsson was just as prolific through seven seasons at Celtic, scoring 242 goals in 315 appearances. In 2000-01 alone, O’Neill’s treble-winning first season at Celtic Park, Larsson contributed 53 goals in all competitions, including 30 in the